Jackson's Concern...

Today in the car on the way to preschool Jackson says:

"Mommy, how are you going to pay me and Josh a car when we get older since you don't have monies for toys and candy now?"

"Well, honey, daddy and I will save our money. Could you and Josh share a car?"

"Yes! Joshy can drive TO preschool and I can drive BACK from preschool! OR, mommy, we could get a car with TWO steering wheels so we can BOTH drive!"

"Ok, that's a good idea Jackson! What color car do you want?"

"I want a pink car, of course mommy."

Haha, poor little Jack is already concerned about how we're going to afford to buy them a car in 12 years. I guess that's a concern for me too though! 12 years, our law school loan will be paid off, we'll be ok. :) I think I should get this on video though that they agreed to share a car so that when they're 16 they'll have no choice! I also think I should stop using the "mommy has no money" excuse and start telling them..."you really just don't NEED another movie!" Then maybe Jack won't be so concerned about his mommy and daddy's financial situation.

Four Days Till Auntie Lindsay Comes!

A couple days ago we made a chain counting down the days till my little sister comes to visit! The boys are very excited for her to come and taking a link off the chain every day is the highlight of their morning. Josh gets to take off the blue ones and Jackson does the brown ones.

Here's Josh this morning taking off a link.. Jack wanted to be in a picture too...

I am SO excited to have Linds come for a week! I miss her so much and know that the week will just fly by because we'll have so much fun. The boys are really excited too. Yesterday Josh says, "Mommy I will NOT be shy when Auntie Lindsay comes-because I already know her!" Jackson says, "I will run to Auntie Lindsay at the airport. I hope she puts her arms out for me. Sometimes daddy doesn't." Hahaha.

Tyce had his 15 month check up yesterday and he is a healthy big boy! He weighed 25 pounds and was in the 60% for weight. 95% for height. 75% for head. Looks like he'll be tall like his daddy and Jackson! Haha, I'm thinking he'll surpass Josh soon! I love my baby and he is growing up too fast!

Happy Halloween!

Tonight we took the boys trick or treating around the neighborhood and they had SO much fun! Jackson was definitely the more outgoing one, being the first to yell TRICK OR TREAT and always the first to yell THANK YOU! We almost left without Jack because he was throwing one of his famous Jackson fits and Josh said, "Mommy I don't want to go trick or treating without Jackson!" He sure does love the companionship. Tyce really got the hang of it fast and loved knocking on doors, ringing doorbells, and putting the candy in his pumpkin. He was the cutest little giraffe I've ever seen walking the streets of Northern Virginia!!! Here are some pics from the night...

Cutie pie with his pumpkin... Best buds...

Jack loved feeling his pumpkin get heavier and heavier, haha...Sure mom, we'll all pose in front of these pumpkins for you to take a picture! Ya right...Tyce ringing a doorbell...Jack was so patient at every door...They came trick or treating at our door and this is what I opened up to...We got SOOO much candy, oh my gosh!!!

It was a fun night. We barely got any trick or treaters so we have so much candy leftover, plus all the candy each of the boys got! I've already snagged a few peanut butter cups and I found one of my all time fav candies in Tyce's pumpkin...VANILLA TOOTSIE ROLLS! They are the best, but very hard to find. I hate the chocolate ones but the vanilla ones are so yummy! Anyways, tomorrow Tyce has his 15 month check up so I will post soon on how that goes. Also, Thursday Jackson is having minor surgery to remove that lesion on his cheek. It's a simple procedure but they do have to put him all the way out for it so it's still a little scary! Keep him in your prayers!

All Is Well...

In an attempt to increase my responsiveness and sensitivity to the spirit I have decided for the next two weeks to only listen to church music in the car. I absolutely LOVE the Mormon Tabernacle Choir, who wouldn't?! The bad news is, it puts Tyce to sleep in the car. Haha. The good news is, it indeed has brought me closer to my Savior. Music has always touched me, there are a few songs that I don't think I'll ever be able to hear without crying (If the Savior Stood Beside Me and I Know That My Redeemer Lives). Today on my way to pick the boys up from preschool I was stressed and grumpy. I had just spent almost half an hour complaining to my sister about my life and I was just feeling sorry for myself. The song that came on was Come Come Ye Saints, one of my favs. Here are the lyrics for those of you who have not heard it...

Come, come, ye Saints, no toil or labor fear; But with joy wend your way.
Though hard to you this journey may appear, Grace shall be as your day.
'Tis better far for us to strive, Our useless cares from us to drive;
Do this and joy your hearts will swell —All is well! All is well!

Why should we mourn or think our lot is hard? 'Tis not so; all is right.
Why should we think to earn a great reward, If we now shun the fight?
Gird up your loins; fresh courage take. Our God will never us forsake;
And soon we'll have this tale to tell —All is well! All is well!

We'll find the place which God for us prepared, Far away in the West.
Where none shall come to hurt or make afraid;There the Saints will be blessed.
We'll make the air with music ring, Shout praises to our God and King;
Above the rest these words we'll tell —All is well! All is well!

And should we die before our journey's through,Happy day! All is well!
We then are free from toil and sorrow, too;With the just we shall dwell!
But if our lives are spared again, To see the Saints their rest obtain;
Oh, how we'll make this chorus swell —All is well! All is well!

I'm sure there's a link online to listen to it, it's such a moving song. This song was written in 1846 when the Mormon saints were migrating from the Midwest to what is now Utah. It of course brought tears to my eyes and I thought...who are you Jenn? Who are you to complain about your life when these pioneers are suffering inflictions I cannot even begin to comprehend, yet they have this attitude of love, gratitude, and optimism.

Yes, money is tight. Yes, I'm chubbier than I'd like to be. Yes, my kids have spilled their milk 7 times in two days. Yes, I rarely get to spend time with my husband. Yes, I miss my family like crazy. Yes, I am lonely. Yes, I am stressed. But you know what? All is well. Because I have my needs met, I am healthy, I have three adorable healthy children, I have an amazing loving adoring husband, I have a wonderful family who does so much for me, I have friends, and I have my Savior. I have his constant love and support. I have my faith and testimony in his gospel. I am so blessed. Truly, all is well.

Preschool Halloween Party...

Tomorrow the boys have their "Bible Heros Party" at preschool. They have to either be a bible hero or an animal from the bible. Well, I am neither creative nor do I want to spend money on costumes so luckily my friend Denise had these costumes we could borrow. She made them both! The boys were really excited about them. For the church trunk and treat and to go trick or treating on Halloween Jackson might be his Batman from last year, but we'll see what he decides. Anyways, I knew tomorrow morning I wouldn't have time to take pictures so I took some tonight...

Cute Joshy the dragon... Tyce had to get in on the fun, this was Josh's costume two years ago and Tyce loved it!

Have you ever seen a cuter giraffe? My dragon and my dog!

They're really concerned about how they're going to buckle up in the car tomorrow in their costumes, especially with Josh's big tail. I told them we'd find a way. Jackson said, "good so because I don't want to have to go to JAIL in my COSTUME!" Haha, yes I tell my kids they'll go to jail if they don't buckle up. :)